419 scam: "Dr. Edward Herman" <dr.herman012@att.net> REPLY ASAP.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million american dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- dr.edwardherman2008@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Edward Herman" <dr.herman012@att.net>
Reply-To: <dr.edwardherman2006@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 13:33:36 -0800
Subject: REPLY ASAP.

From: Dr.Edward Herman
Standard Bank Staff Quaters
Johannesburgh
South Africa.

My Dear,

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business.Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. I knew that this mail will come to you as a surprise, but please do not be discouraged with my proposal, it was due to how things are moving with me, then i decided to write to you when I saw your contact information in a directory.

My name is Dr.Edward Herman, the Regional computing auditor of STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA, JOHANNESBURG BRANCH (SBG).There is an account opened in this bank in 1985 and since 1995 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently, it will be forfeited for nothing according to South Africa laws and act of 1999 and if there is no valid claim, the fund will revert this country government treasury after 15 years. The owner of this account was Mr. Daniel B.Jones, a foreigner, he was a Miner at Kruger Gold Co LTD, he died since 1990. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is $236,000,000.00 USD) Two hundred and Thirty Six Million American dollars.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign account because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the account was Mr. Daniel B Jones, who is a foreigner too.

I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner as the beneficiary. I need your full co-operation to make this work fine, because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account which I will give to you if you are capable of handling such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit.
I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange departments. At the conclusion of this business, we will split the benefits into two equall parts.

Indicate your interest and your seriousness by providing your mobile phon number and any valid Identity card for me to trust you.
Thanks.

I look forward to your earnest reply through my private email address: dr.edwardherman2008@yahoo.com.hk

Yours sincerely,

Dr.Edward Herman.
Standard Bank Of South-Africa
Johannesburgh branch.
www.standardbank.co.za

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam